Country reaping the fruits of government
reforms, says Aquino in Easter message
The country has progressed a lot when the true
power of government was given back to the people, President Benigno S. Aquino
III said in his Easter message Saturday.
In his message, the President said the
resurrection of Jesus Christ mirrors the hope of the Filipino people to rise
from the ill effects of corruption and despair.
“Mula nang naibalik sa mga Pilipino ang tunay na
lakas ng pamahalaan, at naiwaksi ang kultura nang pagkakanya-kanya at
panlalamang, nagawa nating buhatin sa landas ng kaunlaran ang ating bansa,” the
President said.
For the past several years ago, many Filipinos
left the country to find better opportunities elsewhere, but today, the
President said there is a renewed interest for them to return to the
Philippines because of an improving economy.
Also, millions of marginalized and poor people
are being prioritized by government to improve their living condition through
the Pantawad Pamilyang Pilipino Program, he said. More than three million
households are receiving assistance from the government under the program.
The government also has made strides to remedy
the shortage in classrooms in the country, the President said. The government
has been expecting to eliminate the 66,800 classroom backlog before the end of
this year.
There is also sufficient food supply for
Filipinos today, he said. In the past, the country was importing millions of
metric tons of rice that eventually rot in government storage facilities, he
said.
“Kung dati, ilang milyong metrikong toneladang
bigas ang inaangkat at binubulok lang sa mga bodega, ngayon, natatanaw na
natin, hindi lang ang pagiging self-sufficient sa bigas kundi ang pagiging
exporter nito,” he said.
The government is now truly a government by the
people that selflessly focuses on their welfare, the chief executive said. With
the ongoing initiatives, the government was able to save the country from chaos
and hopelessness and in the future will start to reap the fruits of its labor.
The President also highlighted in his message
the spirit of volunteerism that strengthened the country’s unity.
“Ang pagtulong ay nagbibigay-lakas at kalayaan
hindi lamang sa natulungan, kundi maging sa nag-abot ng tulong. Muli’t muli
nating pinatutunayan: wala tayong hindi makakamit kung imbes na
magkakanya-kanya ay magsimula tayong magbigayan. Sa ating kolektibong
pagtutulungan, tiyak na magdudulot ito ng pag-asa at kaunlaran para sa lahat ng
mamamayan,” he said. PND (as)
